System and method of correcting video data errors

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure is directed to a system and method of correcting video data errors. In a particular embodiment, the method includes receiving a plurality of Internet Protocol (IP) video data packets at a generator of a video acquisition system. The method also includes calculating a first error correction code corresponding to a first error profile and generating a first forward error correction (FEC) packet to produce the first error correction code. The method also includes calculating a second error correction code corresponding to a second error profile and generating a second FEC packet to produce the second error correction code. Further, the method includes transmitting a stream of data packets including the plurality of IP video data packets, the first FEC packet and the second FEC packet, to a re-generator of an Internet Protocol video transport system, where an arbitrator of the re-generator identifies an error in the plurality of IP video data packets and selects one of a plurality of inverse FEC functions to correct the error.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to correcting video dataerrors.

BACKGROUND

Television viewing is part of daily life for many people. Videotransport service providers transmit video content to millions ofviewers. As video content formats progress toward Internet Protocol (IP)delivery, equipment costs can decrease. Nonetheless, the quality of thevideo content can be affected by the volume and distribution ofequipment required in networks that distribute IP video traffic. Streamsof media packets can suffer from errors, including loss of data packets,which can cause gaps or freezes in video content. Retransmission of lostdata packets can slow traffic over an IP network. Error correctionpackets can be included with streams of media packets, but it is oftendifficult for network administrators to predict the frequency and extentof packet loss. Depending on the complexity of the network, suchpredictions can be difficult. Hence, there is a need for an improvedsystem and method of correcting video data errors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a particular embodiment of asystem to correct video data errors;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a second particular embodiment ofa system to correct video data errors;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a third particular embodiment ofa system to correct video data errors;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a fourth particular embodiment ofa system to correct video data errors;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a particular embodiment of a method ofcorrecting video data errors;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a second particular embodiment of a methodof correcting video data errors; and

FIG. 7 is a diagram of an embodiment of a general computer system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is directed to a system to correct video dataerrors. In a particular embodiment, the system includes a generatorhaving a processor and a memory device. The memory device includes adata packet module executable by the processor to receive a plurality ofInternet Protocol (IP) video data packets. The memory device alsoincludes a forward error correction (FEC) module executable by theprocessor to calculate a plurality of error correction codes for theplurality of IP video data packets, each error correction codecorresponding to one of a plurality of error profiles. The FEC module isexecutable by the processor to generate a plurality of FEC packets, eachFEC associated with one of the plurality of error correction codes.Further, the memory device includes a transmission module executable bythe processor to transmit a stream of data packets including theplurality of IP video data packets and the plurality of FEC packets to are-generator of an Internet Protocol video transport system. Inaddition, the re-generator identifies an error in the plurality of IPvideo data packets and selects one of a plurality of inverse FECfunctions to correct the error.

In another embodiment, a system to correct video data errors isdisclosed and includes a re-generator having a processor and a memorydevice. The memory device includes a data packet receipt moduleexecutable by the processor to receive a stream of data packetsincluding a plurality of initial Internet Protocol (IP) video datapackets and a plurality of forward error correction (FEC) packets. Thememory device also includes an error module executable by the processorto determine that the plurality of initial IP video data packetsincludes an error having an error profile. Further, the memory deviceincludes an arbitrator module executable by the processor to select oneof a plurality of inverse FEC functions to correct the error.

In another embodiment, a method of correcting video data errors isdisclosed and includes receiving a plurality of Internet Protocol (IP)video data packets at a generator of a video acquisition system. Themethod also includes calculating a first error correction codecorresponding to a first error profile and generating a first forwarderror correction (FEC) packet to produce the first error correctioncode. The method also includes calculating a second error correctioncode corresponding to a second error profile and generating a second FECpacket to produce the second error correction code. Further, the methodincludes transmitting a stream of data packets including the pluralityof IP video data packets, the first FEC packet and the second FECpacket, to a re-generator of an Internet Protocol video transportsystem, where an arbitrator of the re-generator identifies an error inthe plurality of IP video data packets and selects one of a plurality ofinverse FEC functions to correct the error.

In another embodiment, a method of correcting video data errors isdisclosed and includes receiving a stream of data packets at are-generator of an Internet Protocol video transport system, where thestream includes a plurality of IP media packets and a plurality offorward error correction (FEC) packets. The method also includesdetermining an error profile of an error within the plurality of IPmedia packets. The method also includes identifying one of the pluralityof FEC packets, where the identified FEC packet is associated with anerror correction code corresponding to the error profile. Further, themethod includes selecting an inverse FEC function from a plurality ofinverse FEC functions, where the selected inverse FEC functioncorresponds to the identified FEC packet.

In another embodiment, a computer program embedded in acomputer-readable medium is disclosed and includes instructions toreceive a plurality of Internet Protocol (IP) video data packets. Thecomputer program also includes instructions to calculate a plurality oferror correction codes for the plurality of IP video data packets, eacherror correction code corresponding to one of a plurality of errorprofiles. The computer program also includes instructions to generate aplurality of FEC packets, each FEC packet associated with one of theplurality of error correction codes. The computer program also includesinstructions to transmit a stream of data packets including theplurality of IP video data packets and the plurality of FEC packets to are-generator of an Internet Protocol video transport system, where anarbitrator of the re-generator identifies an error in the plurality ofIP video data packets and selects one of a plurality of inverse FECfunctions to correct the error.

In another embodiment, a computer program embedded in acomputer-readable medium is disclosed and includes instructions toreceive a stream of data packets including a plurality of initialInternet Protocol (IP) video data packets and a plurality of forwarderror correction (FEC) packets. The computer program also includesinstructions to determine that the plurality of initial IP video datapackets includes an error having an error profile. The computer programalso includes instructions to select one of a plurality of inverse FECfunctions to correct the error.

Referring to FIG. 1, a particular embodiment of a system to correctvideo data errors is illustrated and designated generally at 100. Thesystem 100 includes a video content acquisition system 102 thatcommunicates with a video content transport system 104 via an InternetProtocol (IP) video content distribution network 106. In an illustrativeembodiment, the video content acquisition system 102 can be within asatellite head-end office (SHO) and can include a satellite dish 108coupled to an acquisition system 110. The acquisition system 110 caninclude, for example, a low-noise blockdown (LNB) converter that iscoupled to or integrated with a satellite signal decoder. Theacquisition system 110 is coupled to a generator 112 that communicateswith the IP video content distribution network 106.

In a particular embodiment, the video content transport system 104 canbe within a video head-end office (VHO) and can include a re-generator114 that communicates with a video acquisition/import server 116. There-generator 114 receives IP video data packets or other IP mediapackets from the generator 112. The re-generator 114 can correct errorsin the IP media packets and send them to the video acquisition/importserver 116. In an illustrative embodiment, the video acquisition/importserver 116 can send the IP media packets via a downstream IP television(IPTV) network 118, for example, to a central office of a video contentservice provider.

In a particular embodiment, a satellite signal can be received at thesatellite dish 108. The acquisition system 110 can include hardwarelogic, computer program instructions, or any combination thereof, todecode the satellite signal, for example, by removing a radio frequency(RF) portion and producing a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG)transport stream signal or other media transport stream signal thatincludes a plurality of IP media packets, such as Internet Protocol (IP)video data packets. The acquisition system 110 sends the plurality of IPmedia packets to the generator 112. In an illustrative embodiment, themedia packets can include user datagram protocol (UDP) packets,real-time transport protocol (RTP) packets, other IP data packets, orany combination thereof.

The generator 112 receives a stream of IP media packets and generatesforward error correction (FEC) packets to produce error correction codesrelated to a plurality of different error profiles. In an illustrativeembodiment, the generator 112 generates FEC packets that includealgorithms to produce error correction codes related to at least twoerror profiles, such as a short burst packet loss and a long burstpacket loss. For example, the generator 112 can generate a first FECpacket to produce an error correction code related to a short burstpacket loss of approximately five packets, and a second FEC packet toproduce an error correction code related to a long service interruptionof approximately three hundred packets. In another embodiment, thegenerator 112 can generate FEC packets to produce error correction codesrelated to other error profiles. Error profiles can be pre-defined ordetermined, for instance, through observation and statistical evaluationof network performance.

A transmitter portion of the generator 112 can transmit a stream of datapackets that includes the IP media packets and the plurality ofgenerated FEC packets to the re-generator 114 via the IP video contentdistribution network 106. The re-generator 114 can buffer each of theFEC packets in one of a plurality of receiver queues or buffers.Further, the re-generator 114 can calculate a plurality of inverse FEC(FEC⁻¹) functions, each of which is based on one of the plurality of FECpackets. In a particular embodiment, the re-generator 114 can include anarbitrator that determines a profile of an error in the plurality of IPmedia packets and selects a FEC⁻¹ function that is suited to correct theerror.

For instance, the arbitrator can determine whether the FEC packet in thefirst receiver queue is associated with an error correction code that isconfigured to correct errors that match the determined profile. If theFEC packet in the first receiver queue is not associated with such anerror correction code, the arbitrator can determine whether the FECpacket in the second receiver queue is associated with an errorcorrection code that is configured to correct errors that match thedetermined profile. Once the arbitrator identifies a FEC packet that isassociated with such an error correction code, the FEC⁻¹ functioncorresponding to the identified FEC packet can be applied to theremaining IP media packets and the identified FEC packet, in order toreconstruct one or more errored packets, such as lost packets. The videocontent transport system 104 can transmit a corrected stream of IP mediapackets that includes the unerrored IP media packets and thereconstructed IP media packets to a central office or other location viathe downstream network 118.

Referring to FIG. 2, a second particular embodiment of a system tocorrect video data errors is illustrated and designated generally at200. The system 200 includes a generator 202, such as the generator 112illustrated in FIG. 1. The generator 202 includes a plurality of queues204, such as Q1, Q2 . . . Q(n). In an illustrative embodiment, thegenerator 202 receives a plurality of IP video data packets from an IPvideo content source 206, such as the acquisition system 110 illustratedin FIG. 1. Each queue 204 generates a forward error correction (FEC)packet 208, such as FEC1, FEC2 . . . FEC(n), based on the plurality ofIP video data packets. Each FEC packet 208 is associated with adifferent error correction code corresponding to a packet losscharacteristic or other error profile.

For example, Q1 can generate a FEC1 packet based on the plurality of IPvideo data packets to produce a first error correction codecorresponding to a first error profile, such as a short burst loss. Q2,on the other hand, can generate a FEC2 packet based on the plurality ofIP video data packets to produce a second error correction codecorresponding to a second error profile, such as a long serviceinterruption. In a particular embodiment, the generator 202 can includeat least one next queue Q(n), each of which generates at least oneFEC(n) packet based on the plurality of IP video data packets to producea next error correction code corresponding to a next error profile. Inan illustrative embodiment, error correction codes can include aPro-Moving Picture Experts Group Code of Practice 3-based (Pro-MPEGCOP3-based) code, a Reed-Solomon code, a Luby Transform code, a Raptorcode, a Golay code, a Hamming code, a Bose/Ray-Chaudhuri/Hocquenghem(BCH) code, a turbo-based code, a convolutional code, an interleaver,any other suitable error correction code, or any combination thereof.

In a particular embodiment, the generator 202 transmits a stream of datapackets that includes the plurality of IP video data packets and theplurality of generated FEC packets to a video content transport system,such as a video head-end office, via an edge device of an IP network212. For example, the generator 202 can communicate with an IP switch210 of the IP video content distribution network 106 illustrated in FIG.1.

Referring to FIG. 3, a third particular embodiment of a system tocorrect video data errors is illustrated and designated generally at300. The system 300 includes a re-generator 302, such as there-generator 114 illustrated in FIG. 1. The re-generator 302 includes aplurality of receiver queues 304, such as RQ1, RQ2 . . . RQ(n). In anillustrative embodiment, the re-generator 302 receives a stream of datapackets from an IP network 306, such as the IP video contentdistribution network 106 illustrated in FIG. 1 or the IP network 212illustrated in FIG. 2. The stream of data packets includes a pluralityof IP media packets and a plurality of forward error correction (FEC)packets, such as the FEC1, FEC2 . . . FEC(n) packets illustrated at 208in FIG. 2. Each receiver queue 304 can store one of the plurality of FECpackets received with the stream of data packets. The re-generator 302can calculate an inverse FEC (FEC⁻¹) function based each of the FECpackets. In an illustrative embodiment, the re-generator can produce aplurality of FEC⁻¹ blocks 308, such as FEC⁻¹ 1, FEC⁻¹ 2 . . . FEC⁻¹ n,each of which is associated with one of the calculated FEC⁻¹ functions.100261 The re-generator 302 determines whether packet loss or othererrors exist within the plurality of IP media packets. For instance, there-generator 302 can determine whether gaps exist in sequence numbersassociated with the plurality of IP media packets. If the re-generator302 determines that packets have been lost, it notifies an arbitrator310, which determines an error correction path to reconstruct the lostpackets.

In an illustrative embodiment, the arbitrator 310 can determine aprofile of an error within the plurality of IP media packets, such as anumber of lost packets. The arbitrator 310 can determine whether the FECpacket in the first receiver queue is associated with an errorcorrection code that is configured to correct errors that match thedetermined profile. If the FEC packet in the first receiver queue is notassociated with such an error correction code, the arbitrator candetermine whether the FEC packet in the second receiver queue isassociated with an error correction code that is configured to correcterrors that match the determined profile. Once the arbitrator 310identifies a FEC packet that is associated with such an error correctioncode, the corresponding FEC⁻¹ function can be applied to the remainingIP media packets in the and the identified FEC packet, in order toreconstruct one or more lost packets. For example, if the FEC packet inthe second receiver queue includes an algorithm to produce an errorcorrection code that is configured to correct errors that match thedetermined profile, the re-generator 302 can apply the function in theFEC⁻¹ 2 block to the remaining IP media packets and the FEC packetbuffered in RQ2 to reconstruct the lost data packets. In a particularembodiment, the re-generator 302 can transmit a corrected stream of IPmedia packets to a central office or other location via the downstreamnetwork 312.

Referring to FIG. 4, a fourth particular embodiment of a system tocorrect video data errors is illustrated and is designated generally at400. The system 400 includes a generator 402 that communicates with are-generator 404 via an Internet Protocol (IP) video contentdistribution network 406. In a particular embodiment, the generator 402can be part of a video content acquisition system at a satellitehead-end office (SHO) of a video service provider, and the re-generator404 can be part of a video content transport system within a videohead-end office (VHO) of the video service provider. In an illustrative,non-limiting embodiment, the generator 402 can communicate with the IPvideo content distribution network 406 via a first network edge device424, and the re-generator 404 can communicate with the IP video contentdistribution network 406 via a second network edge device 426.

In a particular embodiment, the generator 402 includes a generatorprocessor (G-processor) 408 and a generator memory device (G-memorydevice) 410 that is accessible to the G-processor 408. The G-processor408 can communicate with the IP video content distribution network 406via a transmitter interface 414. In an illustrative embodiment, theG-processor 408 can communicate with a video acquisition system 412,such as an acquisition system of a satellite head-end office.

In a particular embodiment, the G-memory device 410 can include a datapacket module 416 that is executable by the G-processor 408 tocommunicate with the video acquisition system 412 to receive a pluralityof IP video data packets or other IP media packets. In addition, theG-memory device 410 can include a queue module 418 that is executable bythe G-processor 408 to maintain a plurality of queues that includes atleast a first queue and a second queue. The plurality of queues caninclude at least one next queue in addition to the first and secondqueues. In a particular embodiment, each of the plurality of queues isassociated with a different error profile, such as a packet lossprofile.

The G-memory device 410 can include a forward error correction (FEC)module 420 that is executable by the G-processor 408 to calculate aplurality of error correction codes based on the plurality of IP videodata packets. Each of the error correction codes corresponds to an errorprofile associated with one of the plurality of queues. Further, the FECmodule 420 can be executable by the G-processor 408 to generate aplurality of FEC packets, each of which is associated with one of theplurality of error correction codes. In an illustrative embodiment, eachof the FEC packets can include an algorithm to produce one of thecalculated error correction codes.

In a particular embodiment, the data packet module 416 can be executableby the G-processor 408 to receive a plurality of IP video data packetsfrom the video acquisition system 412. The queue module 418 can beexecutable by the G-processor 408 to place the plurality of IP videodata packets in a first queue. The FEC module 420 can be executable bythe G-processor 408 to generate, or cause the first queue to generate, afirst FEC packet based on the plurality of IP video packets. Forinstance, the first FEC packet can include an algorithm to produce afirst error correction code corresponding to a first error profile, suchas a short burst loss. Additionally, the queue module 418 can beexecutable by the G-processor 408 to place the stream of IP video datapackets in a second queue. The FEC module 420 can be executable by theG-processor 408 to generate, or cause the second queue to generate, asecond FEC packet based on the plurality of IP video packets. Forinstance, the second FEC packet can include an algorithm to produce asecond error correction code corresponding to a second error profile,such as a long service interruption.

In an illustrative embodiment, the queue module 418 can be executable bythe G-processor 408 to place the stream of IP video data packets in atleast one next queue, and the FEC module 420 can be executable by theG-processor 408 to generate, or cause the at least one next queue togenerate, at least one next FEC packet based on the plurality of IPvideo packets. For instance, each next FEC packet can include analgorithm to produce a next error correction code corresponding to anext error profile.

In addition, the G-memory device 410 can include a transmission module422 that is executable by the G-processor 408 to transmit the stream ofIP video data packets or other media packets, with the plurality ofgenerated FEC packets, to the re-generator 404 via the transmitterinterface 414.

The re-generator 404 includes a re-generator processor (R-processor) 428and a re-generator memory device (R-memory device) 430. The R-processor428 communicates with a second edge device 426 of the IP video contentdistribution network 406 via a receiver interface 432. In anillustrative embodiment, the R-processor 428 can communicate via adownstream video content delivery network 442, for example, with a videoservice provider central office (VCO).

In a particular embodiment, the R-memory device 430 includes a datapacket receipt module 434 that is executable by the R-processor 428 toreceive a stream of data packets that includes a plurality of IP videodata packets or other IP media packets and a plurality of FEC packets,via the receiver interface 432. In addition, the R-memory device 430 caninclude a receiver queue module 436 that is executable by theR-processor 428 to maintain a plurality of queues that includes at leasta first receiver queue and a second receiver queue. The plurality ofreceiver queues can include at least one next receiver queue in additionto the first and second receiver queues. In a particular embodiment,each of the plurality of receiver queues buffers one of the plurality ofFEC packets received at the re-generator 406. Further, the R-memorydevice 430 can include an inverse FEC module 438 that is executable bythe R-processor 428 to produce a plurality of inverse FEC blocks (FEC⁻¹blocks). Each FEC⁻¹ block includes a FEC⁻¹ function calculated based ona FEC packet in one of the receiver queues.

In an illustrative embodiment, the R-memory device 430 can include anerror module 440 that is executable by the R-processor 428 to determinewhether packet loss or other errors exist within, for example, areceived plurality of IP video data packets. For instance, the errormodule 440 can be executable by the R-processor 428 to determine whethergaps exist in sequence numbers associated with the IP video datapackets. The error module 440 can also be executable by the R-processor428 to determine a profile of an error, such as a number of lost packetsor an amount of time lost from video content. The R-memory device 430includes an arbitrator module 444 that is executable by the R-processor428 to determine which of the FEC⁻¹ blocks created by the inverse FECmodule 438 should be used to correct an error in the plurality of IPvideo data packets, based on the error profile.

In an illustrative embodiment, the arbitrator module 444 can beexecutable by the R-processor 428 to determine whether the FEC packet inthe first receiver queue is associated with an error correction code tocorrect errors that match the determined profile. If the FEC packet inthe first receiver queue is not associated with such an error correctioncode, the arbitrator module 444 can be executable by the R-processor 428to determine whether the FEC packet in the second receiver queue isassociated with an error correction code to correct errors that matchthe determined profile. The arbitrator module 444 can be executable bythe R-processor 428 to repeat this process until it identifies a FECpacket that is associated with such an error correction code. Forexample, if the error profile is a loss of five data packets, theprocess can be repeated until a FEC packet is identified that containsan algorithm to produce an error correction code corresponding to a lossof five packets.

The error module 440 can be executable by the R-processor 428 toreconstruct data packets containing data errors, reconstruct lost datapackets, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the error module440 can be executable by the R-processor 428 to apply the FEC⁻¹ functioncalculated based on the identified FEC packet to the remaining (e.g.,unlost) IP media packets and the identified FEC packet, in order toreconstruct one or more IP media packets. In a particular embodiment,the R-memory device 430 can include a downstream transmission module 446that is executable by the processor 428 to transmit the corrected streamof media packets to a central office or other location via thedownstream network 442.

Referring to FIG. 5, a particular embodiment of a method of correctingvideo data errors is illustrated. At block 500, a plurality of IP videodata packets is received at a generator. In an illustrative embodiment,the IP video data packets can be received from a video acquisitionsystem. Moving to block 502, the plurality of IP video data packets isbuffered in a first generator queue (GQ1). Proceeding to block 504, afirst error correction code corresponding to a first error profile iscalculated based on the plurality of IP video data packets. For example,an error correction code corresponding to a long service interruption,e.g., a loss of three hundred packets from the plurality of IP videodata packets, can be calculated. The method continues to block 506, anda first forward error correction (FEC) packet is generated to producethe first error correction code.

At block 508, the plurality of IP video data packets is buffered in asecond generator queue (GQ2). Proceeding to block 510, a second errorcorrection code corresponding to a second error profile is calculatedbased on the plurality of IP video data packets. For example, an errorcorrection code corresponding to a short burst loss, e.g., a loss of tenpackets from the plurality of IP video data packets, can be calculated.The method continues to block 512, and a second forward error correction(FEC) packet is generated to produce the second error correction code.

Moving to decision step 514, in a particular embodiment, the generatorcan determine whether additional queues exist to generate FEC packetsrelated to other error profiles. If no additional queues exist, themethod proceeds to block 524. Conversely, if other queues exist, themethod continues to decision step 516, and the generator determineswhether a threshold overhead has been reached. For instance, thegenerator, the plurality of IP video data packets, or any combinationthereof, may only allow for five FEC packets for every fifty IP videodata packets. If this proportion has been reached, the method proceedsto block 524. On the other hand, if the threshold overhead has not beenreached, the method advances to block 518.

At block 518, the plurality of IP video data packets is buffered in anext generator queue (GQn). Proceeding to block 520, a next errorcorrection code corresponding to a next error profile is calculatedbased on the plurality of IP video data packets. The method continues toblock 522, and a next forward error correction (FEC) packet is generatedto produce the next error correction code. The method then returns todecision step 514, and the generator determines whether any more queuesexist. Once all queues have been exhausted, or the overhead thresholdreached, the method proceeds to block 524, and a stream of data packetsincluding the plurality of IP video data packets and the plurality ofcreated FEC packets is transmitted to a receiver or re-generator at avideo content transport system. The method then terminates at 526.

Referring to FIG. 6, a second particular embodiment of a method ofcorrecting video data errors is illustrated. At block 600, a stream ofdata packets including a plurality of IP video data packets and aplurality of created FEC packets is received at a re-generator of avideo content transport system. Moving to block 602, each of the FECpackets is buffered in a separate receiver queue (RQ). For example, afirst FEC packet (FEC1) can be buffered in a first receiver queue (RQ1);a second FEC packet (FEC2) can be buffered in a second receiver queue(RQ2); a next FEC packet (FECn) can be buffered in a next receiver queue(RQn), and so on.

Proceeding to block 604, the re-generator calculates a plurality ofinverse FEC (FEC⁻¹) functions. Each of the FEC⁻¹ functions correspondsto one of the FEC packets. For example, the re-generator can calculate afirst FEC⁻¹ function (FEC⁻¹ 1) corresponding to an algorithm in the FEC1packet; a second FEC⁻¹ function (FEC⁻¹ 2) corresponding to an algorithmin the FEC2 packet; a next FEC⁻¹ function (FEC⁻¹ n) corresponding to analgorithm in the FECn packet; and so on. In a particular embodiment, themethod moves to block 606, and an arbitrator portion or module of there-generator is notified that the stream of data packets has beenreceived and that FEC⁻¹ functions corresponding to the plurality of FECpackets have been calculated. The method continues to block 608.

At block 608, in a particular embodiment, the arbitrator can reviewsequence numbers included with the plurality of IP video data packetsand determine whether there are any gaps. The method proceeds todecision step 610, and the arbitrator determines whether there are anyerrors, such as lost packets, based on the sequence numbers. If thereare no errors, the method proceeds to block 620. On the other hand, ifthere are errors in the plurality of IP video data packets, the methodmoves to block 612, and the arbitrator determines an error profile, suchas a number of lost packets, a time of lost video content, or anycombination thereof. The method then continues to decision step 614.

At decision step 614, in an illustrative embodiment, the arbitrator candetermine whether the FEC1 packet buffered in RQ1 is associated with anerror correction code to repair an error corresponding to the errorprofile determined by the arbitrator. If the arbitrator determines thatthe FEC I packet is associated with such an error correction code, themethod moves to block 618. Conversely, if the arbitrator determines thatthe FEC1 packet is not associated with such an error correction code,the method moves to decision step 616. At decision step 616, thearbitrator determines whether a FEC packet buffered in another of thereceiver queues is associated with an error correction code to repair anerror corresponding to the error profile determined by the arbitrator.If the arbitrator determines that the FEC packet is not associated withsuch an error correction code, the method returns to decision step 616.Whereas, after the arbitrator identifies a FEC packet that is associatedwith such an error correction code, the method advances to block 618.

Proceeding to block 618, the re-generator repairs the error in thestream of media packets, for example, by reconstructing lost packets orpackets containing data errors. In an illustrative embodiment, there-generator can apply the FEC⁻¹ function corresponding to theidentified FEC packet to the remaining (i.e., unlost) IP video datapackets and the identified FEC packet, in order to reconstruct one ormore lost or errored packets. For instance, if the arbitrator determinesthat a FEC9 packet buffered in a ninth receiver queue (RQ9) isassociated with an error correction code to repair an error having theprofile determined by the arbitrator, then an error correction module orother portion of the re-generator can apply a FEC⁻¹ 9 functioncalculated by the re-generator based on the FEC9 packet to the unlost orunerrored media packets and to the FEC 9 packet, in order to reconstructthe lost or errored IP video data packets.

In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, the method can return todecision step 610, and it can be determined whether any errors stillexist in the plurality of IP video data packets. Once the arbitratordetermines that no further errors exist in the plurality of IP videodata packets, the method advances to block 620, and the plurality of IPvideo data packets is transmitted to a video central office or othervideo transport service location via a downstream network. The methodterminates at 622.

In a particular embodiment, the steps of the methods described hereinare executed in the order shown by the figures. In alternativeembodiments, the steps may be executed in alternative sequences.Additionally, those skilled in the art will recognize that thearbitrator can inspect the FEC packets buffered in the receiver queuesin any order.

In conjunction with the configuration of structure described herein, thesystem and method disclosed provide correction of video data errorshaving multiple error profiles. In a particular embodiment, atransmitter or generator calculates a plurality of error correctioncodes for a plurality of IP video data packets or other IP mediapackets. Each error correction code corresponds to a different errorprofile, such as a number of lost packets, errored or corrupted packets,or any combination thereof. The generator creates a plurality of forwarderror correction (FEC) packets, each of which is associated with one ofthe calculated error correction codes. The generator transmits a streamof data packets including the plurality of IP media packets and theplurality of FEC packets to a receiver or regenerator.

In an illustrative embodiment, the regenerator buffers each of theplurality of FEC packets in a different receiver queue and calculates aplurality of inverse FEC functions (FEC⁻¹ functions). Each FEC⁻¹function corresponds to one of the FEC packets. The re-generatordetermines whether one or more errors, such as lost packets, errored orcorrupted packets, or any combination thereof, exist in the stream ofmedia packets. In one embodiment, an arbitrator can determine a profileof an error and can select one of the plurality of FEC⁻¹ functions torepair the error, for example, by reconstructing lost packets, erroredor corrupted packets, or any combination thereof. For example, thearbitrator can inspect each of the FEC packets buffered in the receiverqueues until it identifies a FEC packet that is associated with an errorcorrection code that corresponds to the error profile determined by thearbitrator. Once the arbitrator identifies such a FEC packet, there-generator can apply the corresponding FEC⁻¹ function to the remaining(unlost/unerrored) media packets and the identified FEC packet, in orderto reconstruct the lost or errored data packets. In an illustrative,non-limiting embodiment, the re-generator can send the corrected mediastream to a video central office or other video transport system via adownstream network.

Referring to FIG. 7, an illustrative embodiment of a general computersystem is shown and is designated 700. The computer system 700 caninclude a set of instructions that can be executed to cause the computersystem 700 to perform any one or more of the methods or computer basedfunctions disclosed herein. The computer system 700, or any portionthereof, may operate as a standalone device or may be connected, e.g.,using a network, to other computer systems or peripheral devices,including a server, generator, re-generator, or other device, as shownin FIGS. 1-4.

In a networked deployment, the computer system may operate in thecapacity of an IPTV server. The computer system 700 can also beimplemented as or incorporated into various devices, such as a personalcomputer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a personal digitalassistant (PDA), a mobile device, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer,a desktop computer, a communications device, a wireless telephone, acontrol system, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, orany other machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequentialor otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. In aparticular embodiment, the computer system 700 can be implemented usingelectronic devices that provide voice, video or data communication.Further, while a single computer system 700 is illustrated, the term“system” shall also be taken to include any collection of systems orsub-systems that individually or jointly execute a set, or multiplesets, of instructions to perform one or more computer functions.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the computer system 700 may include aprocessor 702, e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), agraphics-processing unit (GPU), or both. Moreover, the computer system700 can include a main memory 704 and a static memory 706 that cancommunicate with each other via a bus 708. As shown, the computer system700 may further include a video display unit 710, such as a liquidcrystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a flatpanel display, a solid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT).Additionally, the computer system 700 may include an input device 712,such as a keyboard, and a cursor control device 714, such as a mouse.Further, the computer system 700 can include a wireless input device715, e.g., a remote control device. The computer system 700 can alsoinclude a disk drive unit 716, a signal generation device 718, such as aspeaker or remote control, and a network interface device 720.

In a particular embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 7, the disk drive unit716 may include a computer-readable medium 722 in which one or more setsof instructions 724, e.g. software, can be embedded. Further, theinstructions 724 may embody one or more of the methods or logic asdescribed herein. In a particular embodiment, the instructions 724 mayreside completely, or at least partially, within the main memory 704,the static memory 706, and/or within the processor 702 during executionby the computer system 700. The main memory 704 and the processor 702also may include computer-readable media.

In an alternative embodiment, dedicated hardware implementations, suchas application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arraysand other hardware devices, can be constructed to implement one or moreof the methods described herein. Applications that may include theapparatus and systems of various embodiments can broadly include avariety of electronic and computer systems. One or more embodimentsdescribed herein may implement functions using two or more specificinterconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and datasignals that can be communicated between and through the modules, or asportions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Accordingly, thepresent system encompasses software, firmware, and hardwareimplementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein may be implemented by software programsexecutable by a computer system. Further, in an exemplary, non-limitedembodiment, implementations can include distributed processing,component/object distributed processing, and parallel processing.Alternatively, virtual computer system processing can be constructed toimplement one or more of the methods or functionality as describedherein.

The present disclosure contemplates a computer-readable medium thatincludes instructions 724 or receives and executes instructions 724responsive to a propagated signal, so that a device connected to anetwork 726 can communicate voice, video or data over the network 726.Further, the instructions 724 may be transmitted or received over thenetwork 726 via the network interface device 720.

While the computer-readable medium is shown to be a single medium, theterm “computer-readable medium” includes a single medium or multiplemedia, such as a centralized or distributed database, and/or associatedcaches and servers that store one or more sets of instructions. The term“computer-readable medium” shall also include any medium that is capableof storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution bya processor or that cause a computer system to perform any one or moreof the methods or operations disclosed herein.

In a particular non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, thecomputer-readable medium can include a solid-state memory such as amemory card or other package that houses one or more non-volatileread-only memories. Further, the computer-readable medium can be arandom access memory or other volatile re-writable memory. Additionally,the computer-readable medium can include a magneto-optical or opticalmedium, such as a disk or tapes or other storage device to capturecarrier wave signals such as a signal communicated over a transmissionmedium. A digital file attachment to an e-mail or other self-containedinformation archive or set of archives may be considered a distributionmedium that is equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, thedisclosure is considered to include any one or more of acomputer-readable medium or a distribution medium and other equivalentsand successor media, in which data or instructions may be stored.

In accordance with various embodiments, the methods described herein maybe implemented as one or more software programs running on a computerprocessor. Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limitedto, application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arraysand other hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Furthermore, alternative softwareimplementations including, but not limited to, distributed processing orcomponent/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtualmachine processing can also be constructed to implement the methodsdescribed herein.

It should also be noted that software that implements the disclosedmethods may optionally be stored on a tangible storage medium, such as:a magnetic medium, such as a disk or tape; a magneto-optical or opticalmedium, such as a disk; or a solid state medium, such as a memory cardor other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile)memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile)memories. The software may also utilize a signal containing computerinstructions. A digital file attachment to e-mail or otherself-contained information archive or set of archives is considered adistribution medium equivalent to a tangible storage medium.Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include a tangible storagemedium or distribution medium as listed herein, and other equivalentsand successor media, in which the software implementations herein may bestored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsthat may be implemented in particular embodiments with reference toparticular standards and protocols, the invention is not limited to suchstandards and protocols. For example, standards for Internet and otherpacket switched network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP)represent examples of the state of the art. Such standards areperiodically superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents havingessentially the same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards andprotocols having the same or similar functions as those disclosed hereinare considered equivalents thereof.

The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of the variousembodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a completedescription of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systemsthat utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many otherembodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewingthe disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from thedisclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changesmay be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational and may notbe drawn to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations may beexaggerated, while other proportions may be minimized. Accordingly, thedisclosure and the figures are to be regarded as illustrative ratherthan restrictive.

One or more embodiments of the disclosure may be referred to herein,individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely forconvenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of thisapplication to any particular invention or inventive concept. Moreover,although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any subsequent arrangementdesigned to achieve the same or similar purpose may be substituted forthe specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover anyand all subsequent adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R.§1.72(b) and is submitted with the understanding that it will not beused to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Inaddition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, various features may begrouped together or described in a single embodiment for the purpose ofstreamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter may be directed toless than all of the features of any of the disclosed embodiments. Thus,the following claims are incorporated into the Detailed Description,with each claim standing on its own as defining separately claimedsubject matter.

The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, andnot restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications, enhancements, and other embodiments, which fall withinthe true spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, to the maximumextent allowed by law, the scope of the present invention is to bedetermined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the followingclaims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited bythe foregoing detailed description.

1. A method of correcting video data errors, the method comprising:receiving a plurality of Internet Protocol (IP) video data packets at agenerator of a video acquisition system; calculating a first errorcorrection code corresponding to a first error profile and generating afirst forward error correction (FEC) packet to produce the first errorcorrection code; calculating a second error correction codecorresponding to a second error profile and generating a second FECpacket to produce the second error correction code; and transmitting astream of data packets including the plurality of IP video data packets,the first FEC packet and the second FEC packet, to a re-generator of anInternet Protocol video transport system, wherein an arbitrator of there-generator identifies an error in the plurality of IP video datapackets and selects one of a plurality of inverse FEC functions tocorrect the error.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first errorprofile includes a first packet loss characteristic and the second errorprofile includes a second packet loss characteristic.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: buffering the plurality of IP video datapackets in a first queue until the first FEC packet is generated; andbuffering the plurality of IP video data packets in a second queue untilthe second FEC packet is generated.
 4. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: calculating a next error correction code corresponding to anext error profile and generating a next FEC packet to produce the nexterror correction code; and wherein the next FEC packet is included inthe stream of data packets.
 5. A method of correcting video data errors,the method comprising: receiving a stream of data packets at are-generator of an Internet Protocol video transport system, wherein thestream includes a plurality of IP media packets and a plurality offorward error correction (FEC) packets; determining an error profile ofan error within the plurality of IP media packets; identifying one ofthe plurality of FEC packets, wherein the identified FEC packet isassociated with an error correction code corresponding to the errorprofile; and selecting an inverse FEC function from a plurality ofinverse FEC functions, wherein the selected inverse FEC functioncorresponds to the identified FEC packet.
 6. The method of claim 5,further comprising correcting the error by applying the selected inverseFEC function to the plurality of IP media packets and the identified FECpacket.
 7. The method of claim 5, further comprising buffering each ofthe plurality of FEC packets in one of a plurality of receiver queues.8. The method of claim 5, further comprising calculating each of theplurality of inverse FEC functions, wherein each of the plurality ofinverse FEC functions corresponds to one of the plurality of FECpackets.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising notifying anarbitrator of the re-generator that the FEC packets have been receivedand that the inverse FEC functions have been calculated.
 10. The methodof claim 9, wherein the arbitrator identifies the one of the pluralityof FEC packets and selects the selected inverse FEC function.
 11. Themethod of claim 5, further comprising producing a corrected stream of IPmedia packets that includes at least one reconstructed IP media packet.12. A system to correct video data errors, the system comprising: agenerator having a processor and a memory device; wherein the memorydevice includes a data packet module executable by the processor toreceive a plurality of Internet Protocol (IP) video data packets;wherein the memory device includes a forward error correction (FEC)module executable by the processor to calculate a plurality of errorcorrection codes for the plurality of IP video data packets, each errorcorrection code corresponding to one of a plurality of error profiles;wherein the FEC module is executable by the processor to generate aplurality of FEC packets, each FEC associated with one of the pluralityof error correction codes; wherein the memory device includes atransmission module executable by the processor to transmit a stream ofdata packets including the plurality of IP video data packets and theplurality of FEC packets to a re-generator of an Internet Protocol videotransport system; and wherein the re-generator identifies an error inthe plurality of IP video data packets and selects one of a plurality ofinverse FEC functions to correct the error.
 13. The system of claim 12,wherein at least one of the first error correction code and the seconderror correction code include a Pro-Moving Picture Experts Group Code ofPractice 3-based (Pro-MPEG COP3-based) code, a Reed-Solomon code, a LubyTransform code, a Raptor code, a Golay code, a Hamming code, aBose/Ray-Chaudhuri/Hocquenghem (BCH) code, a turbo-based code, aconvolutional code, an interleaver, or any combination thereof.
 14. Thesystem of claim 12, wherein the generator receives the plurality of IPvideo data packets from a satellite video acquisition system.
 15. Thesystem of claim 12, further comprising a transmitter interface totransmit the stream of data packets to the re-generator.
 16. A system tocorrect video data errors, the system comprising: a re-generator havinga processor and a memory device; wherein the memory device includes adata packet receipt module executable by the processor to receive astream of data packets including a plurality of initial InternetProtocol (IP) video data packets and a plurality of forward errorcorrection (FEC) packets; wherein the memory device includes an errormodule executable by the processor to determine that the plurality ofinitial IP video data packets includes an error having an error profile;and wherein the memory device includes an arbitrator module executableby the processor to select one of a plurality of inverse FEC functionsto correct the error.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the arbitratormodule is executable by the processor to identify one of the pluralityof FEC packets, wherein the identified FEC packet is associated with anerror correction code corresponding to the error profile.
 18. The systemof claim 16, further comprising an inverse FEC module executable by theprocessor to calculate each of the plurality of inverse FEC functions,wherein each of the plurality of inverse FEC functions corresponds toone of the plurality of FEC packets.
 19. The system of claim 18, whereinthe inverse FEC module is executable by the processor to produce aplurality of inverse FEC blocks, each inverse FEC block associated withone of the plurality of inverse FEC functions.
 20. The system of claim16, further comprising a receiver queue module executable by theprocessor to buffer each of the plurality of FEC packets in one of aplurality of receiver queues.
 21. The system of claim 16, furthercomprising a downstream transmission module executable by the processorto send a corrected stream of IP video data packets to a video server ofan Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) system, wherein the correctedstream of IP video data packets includes at least one reconstructed IPvideo data packet.
 22. A computer program embedded in acomputer-readable medium, the computer program comprising: instructionsto receive a plurality of Internet Protocol (IP) video data packets;instructions to calculate a plurality of error correction codes for theplurality of IP video data packets, each error correction codecorresponding to one of a plurality of error profiles; instructions togenerate a plurality of FEC packets, each FEC packet associated with oneof the plurality of error correction codes; and instructions to transmita stream of data packets including the plurality of IP video datapackets and the plurality of FEC packets to a re-generator of anInternet Protocol video transport system, wherein an arbitrator of there-generator identifies an error in the plurality of IP video datapackets and selects one of a plurality of inverse FEC functions tocorrect the error.
 23. The computer program of claim 22, wherein theplurality of FEC packets does not exceed a pre-defined proportion of theplurality of IP video data packets.
 24. A computer program embedded in acomputer-readable medium, the computer program comprising: instructionsto receive a stream of data packets including a plurality of initialInternet Protocol (IP) video data packets and a plurality of forwarderror correction (FEC) packets; instructions to determine that theplurality of initial IP video data packets includes an error having anerror profile; and instructions to select one of a plurality of inverseFEC functions to correct the error.
 25. The computer program of claim24, further comprising instructions to calculate each of the pluralityof inverse FEC functions based on the plurality of FEC packets.